Overview & Reviews

A relative newcomer to the American marketplace, Hyundai is a Korean automaker with a product line that has improved greatly over the past decade. Hyundai cars and SUVs provide a high level of content for an affordable price, and are currently backed by one of the industry's longest warranties.

In 1947, Chung Ju Yung founded the Hyundai Civil Engineering Company. Mere months later, the outfit was bombed in the Korean War. However, the company regained its footing to distinguish itself as one of Korea's leading construction enterprises during the 1950s.

By the late 1960s, Chung had turned his attention to the automobile industry. The Korean government at that time believed that it made more sense to import vehicles than produce them domestically, and had made its opinion known. Still, Chung opted to follow his own convictions, and in 1967, he founded the Hyundai Motor Company.

The company quickly established an alliance with one of the industry's oldest automakers, signing a two-year contract with Ford in 1968 to share assembly technology. Hyundai's first car, the Cortina, was created from that partnership. The manufacturer's first car to be designed and built in Korea was the compact Pony (although the car was based on Japanese technology courtesy of Mitsubishi). The vehicle made its debut in 1974, and the following year Hyundai began exporting it to overseas markets.

Hyundai entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the introduction of its subcompact Excel. The car was an immediate hit, with its supreme affordability being a primary selling point. More than 100,000 Excels were sold stateside in the first seven months. By 1988, Hyundai had begun to produce cars using its own technology. The midsize Sonata was the first fruit borne of this endeavor.

Unfortunately, Hyundai's nascent image was soon tarnished by the poor durability and reliability of its vehicles. Sales tanked. However, rather than abandon the American market in the '90s, Hyundai chose to invest heavily in new product designs and improvements in overall quality and reliability. In 1998, Hyundai also purchased Kia, another Korean automaker, to expand its business and economies of scale.

It all started to pay off by the start of the new millennium, with the 2001 Elantra in particular showing massive improvements in overall quality, reliability and performance. Other models followed suit and the desirability of Hyundai cars increased sharply. Providing an extraordinarily long warranty period didn't hurt either.

Today's lineup is indicative of Hyundai's complete turnaround. Hyundai has a vehicle for nearly every segment, including the economical Accent subcompact, the popular Elantra compact, the midsize Sonata sedan (also available as a hybrid), sporty Genesis and Veloster coupes and a couple of stylish SUVs. Hyundai has also expanded into the entry-level and premium-level luxury sedan markets with its Genesis and Equus sedans. Having gone from being the butt of late-night TV jokes in the 1980s to a well-respected manufacturer of quality vehicles, Hyundai has created a very inspiring rags-to-riches story.

User Reviews:

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  Nothing but trouble - 2002 Hyundai XG350
  By Daman - February 19 - 10:00 am

  Car appeared to be a value but I am on 3rd transmission, front brakes and rotors went at 30K miles, battery gone at 2 years. Tires worn out at 35K. Just had 60K service! WOW! Over $1100 for timing belt and service! If you dont get the timing belt done, warranty is void! Needs to sacrifice some ride quality for handling. Sways in curves almost to the point of being dangerous.

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  My 1st Car - 1997 Hyundai Accent
  By Sweetiepie115 - February 17 - 2:00 am

  I received my Hyundai as a graduation gift from high school. And in the 6 almost 7 years I had this car it has only had major work done to it 3x and I purchased it with 11k miles on it. The gas mileage is great considering this is my second vehicle. Overall I would buy another if they didnt depreciate value so quickly.

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  In the Shop - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Annamcc - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive had very bad luck with my Santa Fe. It is frequently being repaired, it has no power to get over hills(mis-fire in the cylinders), the air conditioner provides little more than an open window does and smells like mold, the rear wheels screech constantly, the powerlocks NEVER worked right and are now disconnected, a MAJOR moisture problem in winter(have to scrape the inside of the windows while driving.

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  Getting worse... - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By niteflite888 - January 26 - 12:08 pm

  This is my third or fourth review on this same car since buying it 17 months ago. Theres a crackling/rattling noise from the front which the dealer tried to address by tightening something and that hasnt worked. The alignment is still off although my original tires are still usable at 28k miles. Most recently theres been excessive road noise and I cant figure out what it is. The ride feels cheap, its awful going over bumps, i dont ilke the feel and sound of the swooshing steering wheel. all in all, i think the value is still good on paper when you consider the features on the base model compared to the accord or camry. i most likely will be turning this in at lease end.

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  Definitely a nice looking SUV - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Kelly - January 25 - 7:16 pm

  I have had my Tucson for about 2 months now. I have no major complaints but also on the other hand no major excitements. It is my first new car purchase and I was impressed with the warrranty and safety features. I do love the way it looks though. I just recently go my two front windows tinted to match the privacy glass in the rear of the vehicle and now it looks absolutely stunning.

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  OK - 1998 Hyundai Sonata
  By gregjstewart - January 25 - 2:00 am

  No major problems. Does not let you know youve left your lights on. This can be a problem with weak battery that comes with car. Tires weak on takeoff on wet surfaces.

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  2005 GLS Hatchback 5 speed - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By dtipton - January 19 - 10:56 pm

  After 3 months and 7000 miles the car has been in the shop 4 times. Three times for problems with the cruise control and once because they did not replace the drain plug properly after an oil change which caused a leak and because the paint was coming off where a bird made a deposit. I was told the warranty did not cover the paint as it was a "foreign substance". They would have covered it had I purchased their after market paint sealer. I called Hyundai Customer Care and was told, "Paint is not covered under warranty if the car is exposed to outside elements". I asked how I was expected to drive the car without exposing it to outside elements? No answer just a "its our policy sir".

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  Maybe I got a lemon - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By jsb71 - December 26 - 3:42 pm

  It was a great car, until it hit 2 years old, and 30,000 KM (~18,000 miles). A piston broke in the engine, and the engine completely failed. What is worse, is the Warranty department balked on replacing the engine as per the service managers request. Eventually they agreed to a short block replacement and a few peripherals. Even that took nearly 2 weeks for approval, and I have little confidence this will be a long term fix. No rental car offered, and no explanation or apology. Still waiting for car to be fixed, as parts have to be shipped in. Not impressed. It is my second Hyundai, and now my last.

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  Drivers side window in door lock - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Robin pound - December 23 - 9:56 pm

  I have a 2004 Hyundai Elantra I have had trouble with the lock working for all the doors window going up and down I have replaced the window I have replaced the part for the window so it works when it wants to if not I have to walk around the car to lock the doors had it fixed it Ricart when I first bought it had it fixed it three other garages and its doing it again they need to recall

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  Forget it - 1999 Hyundai Sonata
  By dchick - December 23 - 2:00 am

  The worst car Ive ever owned. The problems are so numerous. Replaced timing belt sensor, timing belt, power- window cable, THREE wheel bearings, engine mount bolts. And all of these were not under warranty because of mileage. My car literally fell apart after 60,000 miles. Never again.